Teaching Time

Did anyone teach you how to play poker?  Maybe it was your older brother or sister at the kitchen table.  Maybe it was a buddy in a poker room.  Maybe you went through an instructional book or video.

However it happened, we have a suggestion. Do NOT assume you know it all. Former World Series of Poker Main Event champ Jamie Gold once admitted on TV he still felt he had a lot to learn about the game.  He didn't say exactly what -- maybe strategy, maybe reading an opponent, maybe something else.

One of the nicest things we've heard people say about basketball legend Tim Duncan is that despite his stardom and championship rings, "he's willing to be coached."  We all need to be -- and not only in the fine points of poker:

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - II Peter 3:18

The Bible suggests we grow in the "knowledge" of Jesus. We think that means not believing everything you've heard about Him, just because someone said it was so.  That even goes for church ministers, because we've found some of them might have personal or denominational agendas.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11

This verse comes from the early days of the Christian church, which had roots in the Jewish synagogue (verse 10).  The people in this city listened to what the apostle had to say -- but they went to the Bible (they only had the Old Testament at that time) to verify whether it was accurate.

Read through the Bible carefully, and you may find some surprises.  It's helped change our thinking over the years about going to poker rooms or casinos -- much less playing games there.

So tell us: what's the best piece of poker advice you ever received?  Who gave it, and how did it help you?  The comment box is open.

Five-Figure Decisions

If you followed the Twitter link we posted earlier this week, you know one of our relatives entered the World Series of Poker Main Event.  Sad to say, Ryan Von Bevern was out in less than a day -- but he seems satisfied to know he's now done that once in his life.

We mentioned his entry at a live tournament we played Monday night, and brought up the "bucket list" idea: make a list of things you want to do before you die, then do them.  To play in the Main Event requires a large investment -- a $10,000 buy-in (unless you qualify another way), plus paying for the trip to Las Vegas and everything related to that.

The husband of one of our nieces apparently can afford that.  At this point, we cannot.  Ryan chose to try top-level WSOP action (well, except for that million-dollar buy-in game).  We choose to skip it.  And that makes even entering a poker tournament a lot like playing the game itself -- a matter of choices, right or wrong.

If you play long enough, you'll have moments when your choices in a hand look brilliant -- and other moments when opponents are right to brand you a "donkey."  And in poker, there's no one to coach you when a hand is in progress; even in free tournaments, that's considered cheating.  When it comes to the biggest decisions of our lives, some guidance can be very helpful -- and God offers some:

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. - Proverbs 8:10-11

We can be instructed by reading God's guidebook, the Bible.  You might even find nuggets of knowledge there which help you play better poker; we offer some of them here from time to time.  But there's a bigger issue at stake....

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.... - Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Choosing to walk God's way and do His will (John 7:17) is a path leading to eternal life....

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. - Revelation 3:21

And here's the thing about eternal life -- you'll be able to do everything you ever dreamed of putting on a "bucket list," as long as it's not sinful.  That's why we don't have a personal list at the moment.  We choose to follow God now, in the hope of receiving an incredible payoff later.

National Heads-Up Week 6: Meeting of the Minds

The outcome actually was settled in March, but NBC showed the finals of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship today. Erik Seidel swept Chris Moneymaker for the title -- and in the process had to overcome Moneymaker's coach. Not simply any coach, but a "Mindset Coach."

Sam Chauhan explained he helps Moneymaker remain focused at the table. "There are things in life you can control and things you can't control," he said. "I help him to focus on the things you can control."

Chauhan's correct in describing not only poker, but what we face in life every day. But do you need to hire a Mindset Coach to help you focus? Moneymaker did, and we suppose a lot of athletes do. But rank-and-file poker players don't have that privilege. Thankfully, there's a valuable book available to help the rest of us. And it says....

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. - I Corinthians 2:16 (KJV)

Yes, we know - some of you may be scoffing, and think Christians are out of their minds. You may point to the "Bible guarantee" a radio preacher made about this weekend, which turned out to be as empty as going all-in with 5-2. But many believers are thinking, rational people -- and they try to talk some sense into people prone to going out of a limb (even in the body of Christ).

Christ's mind was filled with the things of His Father. You can develop that mind by seeking God to provide His Holy Spirit.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - II Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

To be fair, there are plenty of people who can help you develop a godly mind. They're called ministers, pastors or elders, serving at congregations large and small. Listen carefully to their words -- but always verify what they say by studying the Bible for yourself. Focusing on God can help you control the temptations to sin.

P.S. If you watched carefully, did you notice Chauhan's shirt? It had the Full Tilt Poker logo Seidel wore -- NOT the Poker Stars logo of Moneymaker! Who wants to explain that one?